Airports and airlines across Europe have called on the European Commission and EU Member States to introduce immediate operational flexibility in the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES), following widespread disruptions on the first day of its full implementation.
Industry bodies ACI EUROPE and Airlines for Europe (A4E) said the rollout has resulted in significant passenger delays, missed flights and operational challenges, validating concerns raised in the lead-up to the system’s full activation.
While the European Commission stated that traveller registration takes an average of 70 seconds under optimal conditions, initial reports from airports and airlines across the Schengen area indicate prolonged processing times due to the mandatory registration of all third-country nationals.
Passengers have reportedly experienced waiting times of two to three hours at airport border control during peak travel periods. These delays have occurred despite authorities making use of partial suspension measures, which allow for biometric data collection to be temporarily bypassed.
The disruptions have also impacted flight operations, with several instances of passengers missing departures due to extended border processing times. In one case, a flight to the United Kingdom departed with 51 passengers absent, while another flight had no passengers at the gate at closing time, with travellers arriving significantly later.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, and Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E, said, “While we will continue to closely monitor developments in the coming days, it is already evident that greater flexibility is immediately needed. Border control authorities must be allowed to fully suspend the EES when waiting times become excessive. This is essential not only in the coming weeks, but throughout the peak summer travel season. Our support for the EES and its objectives is unwavering. However, strengthening border management must not come at the expense of operational efficiency or the passenger experience. Safeguarding Europe’s reputation as an accessible and well-functioning tourist and business destination is at stake, particularly as air travel is already facing significant disruption due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.”
